Getting to a museum can be a pricy proposition. Even if you’re close enough not to have to purchase international airfare or stay in a hotel, ticket costs and museum food can really add up.
So what to do if you can’t hop on a jet to Paris to see that new exhibit of avant-garde frog photography? Harness the power of the internet, my friends. Many museums have extensive gallieries and information right on their websites. Here are the best of the best when it comes to museum websites.
The Louvre
No need to brush up on your French for the website of the most visited museum in the world. The thoughtful cyber-curators produced virtual tours for those who don’t feel like ponying up thousands of dollars in travel expenses to visit this Paris museum. While like real museum-goers you might first check out landmark pieces like the Mona Lisa, don’t discount the lesser-known collections such as this 3D exhibit of a Bawit Monastery or a virtual tour of the museum’s Islamic art.
La Cinémathèque Française
Fire up your high school French (or Google Translator) to check out the stunning site for la Cinémathèque française. The ever-modest institution describes itself as the most important film archive in the world. It backs up its boasts with incredible collections of films, set pieces, props, and costumes from some of the most important cinematic works in history. The website features a “zoom sur les collections” section where one can zoom in on pieces from the collection such as whimsical drawings by Méliès or the robot from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis.
MoMA
Of course some of the best use of the internet as a gallery comes from the Museum of Modern Art. You can browse the collections, preview exhibitions, or download their free Abstract Expressionism NY app. The site is multimedia rich, with behind the scenes audio and video for installations like this guy playing piano from the inside out.
The Studio Museum in Harlem
For one of the best collections of works by artists of African descent, The Studio Museum in Harlem is the place to go. While the museum’s website is certainly media-light in comparison with some of the larger museums, it serves as an excellent introduction to past and present artists who are often overlooked.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
This large Boston-based museum features interactive tours of its extensive international art collections. Its Asian Robes & Costumes and New England collections are particularly unique.
The British Museum
The British Museum ranks with the Louvre as one of the largest and most popular museums in the world. Its website makes for perfect teatime browsing with the online tours and an interactive experience for children.
The Smithsonian
While the vastness of the Smithsonian isn’t pared down well on the website, a visitor with the patient to sift through the many, many collections will find a wealth of images and information on the institute’s official website.
Well now you don’t even have to travel the distance it takes to move your mouse to the URL bar. Google has started the Google Art Project, a new web site that collects art and museum images from around the world.
